Question

Evaluate: \[144 \div - 12\]
A 12
B -12
C 7
D -1

Answer 1

Hint:
The division is a basic arithmetic operation apart from addition, subtraction and multiplication. The division is the reverse process of multiplication. In multiplication, we multiply the numbers into its multiples but in the division, we divide the numbers into parts. Here we need to evaluate the given numbers in which 144 is dividend and -12 is divisor, hence divide both the terms to obtain the quotient.

Complete step by step solution:
To evaluate the given numbers i.e.,
\[144 \div - 12\]
In which 144 is Dividend and -12 is Divisor, and the result obtained is Quotient i.e., represented as
\[Dividend \div Divisor = Quotient\] or
\[\dfrac{{Dividend}}{{Divisor}} = Quotient\]
Dividend is the number to be divided, Divisor is the number to be divided with the dividend and Quotient is the result to be found after division.
Now let us divide the given numbers,
\[\dfrac{{144}}{{ - 12}}\]
Here the numerator term is 144 and denominator is -12 and after evaluation we get -12 as the Quotient.
\[\dfrac{{144}}{{ - 12}} = - 12\]
As the dividend term is divisible by -12, hence we get -12 as quotient.

Therefore, option B is the right answer.

Additional information:
If multiplication is totalling of numbers, division is the distribution of numbers. Dividing integers is the opposite operation of multiplication. But the rules for division of integers are the same as multiplication rules. Though, it is not always necessary that the quotient will always be an integer.

Note:
The quotient of two positive integers will always be positive, the quotient of two negative integers will always be positive and the quotient of a positive integer and a negative integer will always be negative. Hence, based on the dividend and divisor terms we find the quotient and while dividing fractions, the division operator needs to be converted into multiplication and then divide the terms.